Question bank
The Question bank is a database to which you can add questions and later use them in Moodle tests. Questions can be categorized according to requirements and can be of different types.
The question bank section is located on the left side menu of the course.
After you click on the Question bank, you will see the Questions page. The Select a category menu allows you to filter and display tasks by category.
The page Questions contains a list of all created questions with information about their author and recent modifications.
After clicking the Edit button in the question table, you can edit questions, duplicate them and perform other actions.
You can create new questions using the Create a new question button. First of all you need to choose the question type.
- Combined – a combined question type which allows the embedding of the response fields for various available sub-questions in the question text. Depending on which question types you have installed, the student can enter a numeric or short text answer or choose an answer or answers using a select box or check boxes.
- Essay – allows a response of a file upload and/or online text. This must then be graded manually.
- Embedded answers (Cloze) – questions of this type are very flexible but can only be created by entering text containing special codes that create embedded multiple-choice, short answers and numerical questions. You can find more information about syntax of Cloze questions in the official Moodle documentation.
- Calculated simple – a simpler version of calculated questions which are like numerical questions but with the numbers used selected randomly from a set when the quiz is taken.
- Short answer – allows a response of one or a few words that is graded by comparing against various model answers, which may contain wildcards.
- Numerical – allows a numerical response, possibly with units, that is graded by comparing against various model answers, possibly with tolerances.
- True/False – a simple form of multiple choice question with just the two choices “True” and “False”.
- Drag and drop onto image – images or text labels are dragged and dropped into drop zones on a background image.
NoteThis question type is not accessible to users who are visually impaired.
- Drag and drop onto text – missing words in the question text are filled in using drag and drop.
- Drag and drop markers – markers are dragged and dropped onto a background image.
NoteThis question type is not accessible to users who are visually impaired.
- Matching – the answer to each of a number of sub-question must be selected from a list of possibilities.
- Random short-answer matching – like a Matching question, but created randomly from the short answer questions in a particular category.
- Select missing words – missing words in the question text are filled in using drop-down menus.
- Multiple choice – allows the selection of a single or multiple responses from a pre-defined list.
- Calculated – calculated questions are like numerical questions but with the numbers used selected randomly from a set when the quiz is taken.
- Calculated multichoice – calculated multichoice questions are like multichoice questions which choice elements can include formula results from numeric values that are selected randomly from a set when the quiz is taken.
- Formulas – question type with random values and multiple answers. The answer fields can be placed anywhere so that we can create questions involving various structures such as vectors, polynomials and matrix. Other features such as unit checking and multiple parts questions are also integrated tightly and easy to use.
- Description – this is not actually a question. Instead it is a way to add some instructions, rubric or other content to the activity. This is similar to the way that labels can be used to add content to the course page.
After choosing the question type, you will see a page with question settings depending on the question type. The required fields are always Question name, Question text and Default mark.
The questions are organized into categories. Each course initially has only one category Default. It is better to create more different categories, which can help you with question organization. This will also make it easier for you to find questions and use random questions in tests. It is possible to create subcategories for each category.
On the page Categories, you can edit (1.) and create new categories (2.).
On the page Questions, it is possible to move a question to the other category. To do so, you first need to select the category in which the question is, and then select the question or questions you want to move with the checkbox on the left side (1.) next to its title. Then in the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page, select the required category and click the Move to... (2.) button.
You can import the questions with the following choosing categories and mapping grades. Moodle supports more formats for import – all formats are described on the Import page. Created questions can be exported in Aiken, Gift, Moodle XML, or XHTML formats – all formats are described on the Export page.
